US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4848

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BANGLADESH: WORKERS RIGHTS IN EPZ'S

Identifier: 05DHAKA4848
Wikileaks: View 05DHAKA4848 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Dhaka
Created: 2005-09-26 11:38:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: ETRD ELAB BD USTR
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS DHAKA 004848 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, ELAB, BD, USTR 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: WORKERS RIGHTS IN EPZ'S 
 
REF: STATE 172549 
 
1. (SBU) On September 25, CDA presented demarche (reftel) to 
Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman, who 
expressed appreciation for USG concerns on workers rights but 
reiterated BDG concerns that unfettered trade unionism could 
politicize and undermine the most efficient industrial sector 
in Bangladesh--the EPZ's.  Rahman told CDA: "Just look at the 
Chittagong port or any bank or state operated enterprise. 
Unions have taken them over." 
 
2. (SBU) Comment: We will repeat the demarche with other BDG 
officials.  Rahman is exceptionally unsympathetic because he 
blames militant unionism for virtually destroying his 
family's newspaper.  The good news, however, is that the BDG 
understands that we continue to monitor closely labor 
conditions in the EPZ's. 
CHAMMAS 

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